Change is a universal law. It is an inevitable and inseparable part of any educational system as well. Education is not merely a framework for transmitting information; it is a major vehicle of social, economic and cultural transformation. In a fast-evolving modern landscape marked by technological advancement, globalisation, changing employment trends and increasing demands for interdisciplinary knowledge, our educational systems must continuously adapt to meet emerging needs.
| Government College Khundian, District Kangra. | Assistant Professor | Department of English |
Over the years, Indian colleges and universities have continually evolved in response to dynamic educational policies and the needs of learners. Such transitions pose new responsibilities and challenges, but they also offer vast opportunities to reflect on past experiences and to move forward with greater understanding and preparedness. The National Education Policy 2020 seeks to redesign our education system in this new era. Here, it is pertinent to mention that NEP 2020 is India’s third education policy which replaces the earlier policy of 1986. The NEP 2020 was approved by the Union Cabinet on 29 July 2020 and is the first education policy of the twenty-first century in India. It followed the work of the K. Kasturirangan Committee, which submitted the Draft of National Education Policy in 2019. The government of India subsequently undertook further consultations from various educational institutions and academicians across the country before finalising the 2020 policy.
In this context,2026 is particularly significant for colleges and universities in Himachal Pradesh , as the new semester system has also been adopted from the current academic session, in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, following its successful implementation in most other Indian states. Interestingly, it resonates with an earlier phase of change that I witnessed at the beginning of my professional journey back in 2018, when I joined Government Degree College Khundian, Kangra as Assistant Professor in the Department of English . That period too was marked by change and adjustments, as we were then moving out of the semester system under the RUSA (Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan) framework, launched in 2013 and reverting to the traditional annual examination system.
Looking back now,it brings a sense of déjà vu and it feels as though I have come full circle — witnessing yet another major academic transformation, though from a different vantage point. It is true that change in educational structures often brings with it a mixture of excitement, uncertainty, challenges and learning. Today, I feel fortunate to have observed these transitions so closely over the years.
What makes this experience even more unique for me, is the fact, that I myself never really studied under the semester system as a student. During my undergraduate years at St Bede’s College, Shimla, the annual system was followed in Himachal Pradesh, and later, when I pursued my post-graduation from Panjab University, Chandigarh, the annual pattern continued there as well. As a result, I never really had the opportunity to become acquainted with the semester system from a student’s perspective.
Perhaps that is why this transition feels both new and nostalgic at the same time. While professionally I am now adapting to the semester framework under NEP 2020, personally it also feels like stepping into an academic landscape that had somehow remained absent throughout my own higher educational journey. In many ways, this phase is not just a major shift, but also a nexus — one that connects different chapters of my academic and professional life together.
Point of View: : Dr.Chetna Negi
Assistant Professor
Department of English
Government College Khundian, District Kangra.
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